Method of and apparatus for processing fruit



Sept- 14, 1943- R. BQ NAwMAN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING FRUIT Filed July 7, 1939 5 SheetSeSheet l INVENTOR.

1 ATTORNEY 5 a. J5 w m 4 /w m 7 m L m 1+ .Baum VMI R. aNAwmAN. METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR-PROCESSING FRUIIT Sept. 14,1943.

Filed July 7, '1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY 5.

Spt. 14, 1943. l R. B. NAWMAN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING FRUIT Filed July '7, '1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS.

Sept 14, .1943- R. B. NAwMAN 2,329,212

v METHOD OF AND M ?RRA'JJUS FOR PROCESSING FRUIT ATTORNEY.

Sept. 14, 1943. A R B NAWMAN 2,329,212 7 METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS Fon PROCESSING FRUIT l Filed July 7, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEK Patented Sept. v14, 1943. l Y e L" l v especially forpit'ting fruit after ithas beensevu fruit section; to provideafruitpittng apparatus eredintofhalves'or into other segments. ,5f involving one'orvmorezpitting blades vwl`1ich "are fAmong "theob'jects of theA present invention arranged tofpufr'sue acutting paththrough the are to provide amethod' of and apparatus for pitesh off vthe pit section which is generally sha1- -ting-halves or sections 'of fruit in a manner readlower thanv the normal depth of the pit while at @of severing .tlfler flesh fromv thefpit,'notwithstandl lifted away from the flesh'of the fruit during the tions" which insuresthe liberationand removal of 'section drinfg thepitting" operation* and Vwhereby Y v ''2",'329;2'1.2 Mliriio'nl oFAND APPARATUS Fori". Y 'PBOCESSINGFIWTQ v Rome B. Newman, Oakland' Calif., a'ssignor i0 Y y u Y Special Equipment Company, Portland, 0mg, v

`a corporationof Oregon t t j yApplication July 7, 1939, Serial No. 283,202

V y n. 32 claims. lo1,. 414sf28) t t n *Thisinvention relates to a method ofjand apsection-"as a whole'movespartiallywith-thepit# paratus forpittin'gf-fruitjparticularlyclingstone ting mechanism fand" *therebyv prevents'v the pitv peaches and othenjdrupaceous fruit, and more Afroml'being-too forcibly torn from the'ilesh-'of the ily to extract substantiallyfany sizeof-pit from l the `same time producing "relative movementbethe fruit sectionlwithout entailingthe-'removalof lo tween the pit 'andthenesh"ofjthe `fruit;serving portion'sof the flesh of the fruit and particularly to cooperatewith th'esh-allower movement of vthe fwhen-ithe* pitting mechanism `'is operating `o-n a pitting blades so "ast out a minimum of esh sect1ori-"oi" fruit havngal smaller shallow pit; to -from the fruit sectionytdprovide a method of provide a 'metho d'offand apparat'us "for pitting and appar'itus for pitting fruitysections wherein sectionsoirmii-in'whidi provisin is' made for 15 ihepiiiing blades are nreventefiirom digging too assuringthe `proper engagement vofthefflesh by n y deeply into the flesh of the fruit during the pitthe severingmeansat 'the start vofthel operation ting movement and wherein-the pit is in asense 4ingvariation or irregularity'finfthe si'ze'or form of pittingv operation whereby to providea shallow the pit o'r 'anyimproper positioning-ofthe fruit v2o 4pitting cutjtoprovide a method of andapparatus with' respectfto'said" severing meansjt'o providea ffor pittin'gfruit sections linvolvingthe applica- 'methd `'of'and'apparatusor "pitting fruit'A section "of variable pressure to thefesh of the fruit r'thepitwithout'.bruising Vortearing the flesh of v'the particularlyitoutiliae a yielding pressure* whereby fru'it- 'orl'eaving theseve'redf'surfaceoftheffruit 25 to causethe`kni ves closely to follow the contour sectionfrough'oruneveng'toprovide a'niethod of A'ofthe pit'a's they move through the-nosh of the and 'apparatus for'pittingfruitsections which fruit; to'provide a yieldinggp-ressure upon the avoids 'the use' (3f-cutting? edgesof the severing flesh-of' thefruit'section during thep'itting opermembers in 'a' vmanner lrequiringfrequent reation foi the purposenntende'd; to providev a sharpeningor replacement and/or withoutistrain 30 method of anda'pparatus' for pitting fruit whereon the" other partso'f'fthe machine andwhichopin oneror morewpittrng blades, are yprovdedand eration isrreadily 'adaptable 'either to hand or are adapted to be positioned laterally of thepit :power or for manlial for automatic'loperation; lof the vfruit'section and to one'side thereof, and to providefamethod of*and"'ai'nparatus4 for pitting t, when two blades are'prfovided, on opposite sides fruit sections which includes the operation of 35 thereof vinspaced relationofrom'the pitl whereby shifting the pitrelatiyely to thezflesh ofthe peach variantlsizved and veccentrically placed pits may 'ini-1a manner to prevent theremoval of excess 1 b e accommodated,V and whereby such` l'pitting flesh 'from the 'fruit section v@during the pitting knives are given a preliminary pit'locating moveoperation; to provide "an apparatus for vpitting Inntvfduring whichy time thepitti'ng'knives move fruit sections. 'wherein' the fruit "section t holder 40 across 'the rcut faceof the fruit section and come [during the' pittingr operation isadjustablyshifted 'into- Contact with'the" pit and thereafter follow liai'eiiiiiy 'whereby 'idposiiion the pitting-made', `cmseiyjtheconiiiirofjiiiepit; cutting through relatively to any position offy the pit in the fruit 'the flesh of the fruit'sectionfand thereby making section andfparticularly `whit-rein,variously posi- Y a shallow pitting citj to przividea method ofand sitioned pits of successivefruit'sectionsarelto be 45A apparatus for pitting fruit sections wherein two -pitted in the same machine; to provide a machine pittingfknives cooperate `-frr'am` opposite sides of 'for ,pitting Yfruit sections involving lmechanism the cut face of the-fruitl "section and wherein 'permittingl the pittingblade to Ymove in a prelimmeans is provided foi automatically causing the 1 inary non-circular path during th'e pitting oper'- knives ad'jiistablyto'travellaterally into-contact vation whereby*tof'case'ftheiblademoreclosely '50 with-fthe wall of "thejpit,y the yi'iriechanism-being to followthecontoh'r of the pit r'proper andthere- L fconstructedand arranged sof that if one Apitter byremo've 'a minimum ofv flesh fromthefruitfdfirn bladecontacts thepit ahead ofthe other, further ing` the pitting 'operatioruy to provide' pitting 'movement of fthe' contacting blade will'bearrested mechanism for fruit "sections rwhereinitlnriur'ig fthe t until the -otherblade-contactsl thev pit, whereupon vpitting-operation the fleshof the peach" or'- fruit *55 both blades will simultaneouslymake a pitting and automatically initiate the pitting movement to provide a device for pitting fruit `sections Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 are vertical sectional views on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1, showing the parts in the different positions in severing wherein the fruit section is mountedina shiglt-r able cup and wherein one or more pitting blades are adapted to be positioned to onersidegand in spaced relation to the pit at the out face of the half` fruit, including mechanism for preliminarily moving one or more of the pitter bladeslaterally across the cut face into contact with thepit and thereupon laterally to shift the pt relatively to the fruit -flesh in which it lis embedded, whereby the pitfmagkescontactwith the other blade and/or whereby theV yiirst mentionedzblade .will shift vthe peach asla whole, and the-cup-inwhich-itis 1ocated, laterally `so .that the othen side of k:the ,pit automatically contacts 4the oppositeA blade;V 4 at whichtime both bladeswill-thereafter move inunison aroundthe contouroi' thepitto sever-the same fromtheilesh of* the ffrui't sectionr;rto provide a` tions wherein during ,thefpiiiseyeeng movement a relatively fflat,plate-lille memberl is adaptedto pressvagainst -the cut iiesli` ofthe fruit section concentrically about the Apit/while it isbeing severed, whereby to produce relatively-opposite movements vrof the -lesh'fbeing severed andA the pit which is -ibeing-severedvfrorn -the fleshso-as to vcause Ya Ashallower cut to lprovidefin.-.ornrection with `the foregoing -a yielding'pressuregyfpr saidiiat, plate-likemember andw-herein thepressure.increases.infintensityfask the `pit rcutters move around the .contourgof the pit-beingsevered; to provide yielding andlaterally mounted lcupi-nem- `bers .for lholding .fruit sections Vduringakpitting .operation which provide `rfor`A lateral las well 4as nyielding -movements ofthe .fruit-sections .being severed; to provide almethodand; device forfsevering V.the -secd sections; o f split- .fruit wherein, while-thehalf fruit-isfheld by a holder contacting the Vcunved periphery of the half -fruit with its seedsection exposed, withiqseveringn-means disposed flate'rally of Ythe cut face of, the half ,-fruit and adapted arcuately to-swing aboutaixedraxis throughthe -iiesh of the-,half fruit :tov sever the .seed` section thereoit'he half fruit, -includingits -holding Vmeansy is 'shifted vaway frost-n; the axis of' the severing -means whereby-toposition the seed section more.closelyftothefpath of--arcuate movement of the severing-means .whereby to-tiform a shallower -cutinthefles-h ofthe half .f ruitduring vtherseverranceof the;seedysection;--and to provide these-and other objects of invention as Awill-loe apparent fromaperusal ofthe following -speciiication lwhen taken in connectionwith the acdmenyine-drewingswherein* Fig-'lisa verticalsectional view showing `one formofthepittingmechanism;l v u f Fig. 2 is @fragmentary-,f sectional 5 'ew of the devicestakenonf-the. line-.2 2 ofFigv.

lviews taken; 0n the licei-3 of Fie-1,1.; showing -thezpitter mechanism in. diiferentiposi-tions the fruit from the lflesh of the pit;

Fig. 11 is a view` corresponding to the view il- 'lustrated in Fig. 3, but disclosing a somewhat modiiieddesign of pitter; 4

isa vfragmentary.view corresponding to Fig."1-`but Aillustrating'the modified structure shown in Fig. 11;

kFig. 13 is a fragmentary end View of the parts shown in Fig. 1-2 l Y f'iig. f1.4 is a View showing the cervical-shaped surface of the laterally'shiftable cup mechanism; `and Fig. ,l'risjasimilar view showing a modification thereof.

"Thegpresent invention is a continuation-impart of myprior application Serial No. 55,030, iiled December 18, 1935.

In'lthe'embodiinent of thef-inventionfillustrated, thertatine mechanism is designed particularly `for use with -clingstone peaches which, previous to-being positionedzin the pitten'garesevered into halves, each half lhaving fembeddedftherein va halved pit. VHowever, itis to-be kunderstood Vthat the invention is equallyapplicable'to sections or segments Vof. fruit having alhalf pit or awholepit in -aaparticular section.l i

As -is well` known inthe Iart, nfpitting peaches particularly clingstone-.peachea when thepeaches are severedinto rhalves itwill be found'tha-tt'he pits=are of varying; size in successive peach halves, and 'furthermore-.that l the pits -will not be uni- -formly disposed or embedded in` .the .successive peach]halvesy so; ,that-,the problem (repositioning the ,pittingyknive 1oit-lcnivesv accurately with respect-toithe.edgesfof the-pit at the cutgiace Yof the fruit- Ysecticirxi'is :a considerable one, Iparticularly in viewoffthezfact that whenzthe pitting-cut is made the blade ory blades of,` the pitt-ing, mechanisin-.must-or'v should-follow closely the contour of :the pit so vas vto A sever-.the 'minimum 'amount ,of feshofY the fruit sectionduring fthe-severance yof thepit. Moreover it isirnportantwthat dur-ing 'the pitting operation thef knives shall.- not: disfignre fthe fruit sections, shall not4 leave .tears :either inthe peripheral portions of-the fruit .sections-'or in-the `pi't-l cavities, and particularly shall,v not dig .toofdeepl-yfduring vthe formationv of thepit cavity. In-shortthe,pit cavities shouldbe formed cleanly andfwiththe -removal Vof the minimum amount of flesh, the ann being to ,provide-ahalf -peach `with fthe -pit :removed and tin lthe -most .saleable condition-,w j l.

The drawings -show one tform v of .vasingle unit pitter arranged Afor. manual` or .pedal operation, and in general comprising agpairof cutters farranged lto enter andzpass-through the flesh of i`thefrui't :about-'the pit while the :fruit'is supported, 'I'n thejA form illustrated, the' cutters are arranged to eng-age initially .the :cut rfaoe Tof the half fruit-and are sor mountedethat when-.they initially engagefsuchrsurface .they arefin spaced .apart extended position 4without the Comines .of

ythepit, in. a-sort of initial.pit.locat ing position. .Uponthe operation of the-cutters; or cutterfthey arerdrawn-laterally into engagement withthepit without substantially y pentrating into Athe' flesh of the fruit. This is.thepit-locatingmovement. After the pit. is `v thus engaged, -the lcutters :pass through vthe flesh of the` halffruit VAaround-.the pit. until complete severance and' .liberationw of ,the -pit from thefleshisiefected. ,Means-eremeluded in "the pitter i or causing Ya; jpositiveforce and caused to :assume -the 'position shown"v in Fi'g.'

` which lroughly, .is concentric to Vvthe j Byform'ing. me @uti-mgm d to be: setup during the severing operation? where f byto drawor force the 'pitf'and flesh apart-fand swing offthe cutting means, thereby'` causing the line of lseverancel in each instance more Aclosely to maintain `lthe`Y cutting members-in" embracingl': i'

relation. within@ sideofftheipirtrroughout' nie severing operation whereby to insure" the mini` f mum severanee'of flesh'of theiruit during'the' pitting operation.

l Referringspeoiicallyltothe drawings, the pit-I tingmechanisni hreirifs'h'own comprises? afbase structure'fZ 'on which .are sup'portvedla pair o fj tingmea'ns include'levers' and 'igeac'hmouited at one .end Y.on common shaft' 8 i for rotatin a'bout the Vaxisof such shaft. '"The 'shaitfisifed in' bearings `9 extending yfrom' the lbase structure Zand preferably-disposed horizontally These to; follow the'l'contou'r Vof the pit and thereby, remove the minimu'mvof riiesh during the severin'gwcutj'Furthermore this shape. of the blades contributes :towardthe'clean ejection-of the pit from thekiiesh of the fruit:A 5

" sans are provided' for supporting 'the half fruit'intoperative relation to the blades rso that pittingl or cutting means 3l' and 4.v VYTh'esecut-f leversfA andi! carry thfsicutter blades- Il and 12, respectively,'which'aredesigned to enter and severfthe flesh of the 'fruit around the pitfin effecting the ypitting operation.` j The pitting 'The bladesr areiformed as portions` offpreferably removable plates" I4 and I5-w h'ich -l are connected to the levers l5v andA 'I th'i'ouglfitl'lev medium'flof laterall` extensions or'bars Iland l'8,resp`ec one ata time into operative relation to the-cutters.

For thepurpose 'of this 'description` the `holder willV be; considered Yas' denitely positioned lunder the cutters. v n IAs ameans of 'insuring proper vertical. positioningof 'the fruit and/ or seed sectionN relativev to the tively; Each 'bladel is l preferablyy -foijmed 'asa l hollowA segment' hereinjshown`\` 'as -f ai" quarter sphere@ and" the positions pand-mounting of VTthe blades aresuch that when Athe levers 6 andf/T are fverti'callyl disposed, as" shown "in Fig;` Lyath'e' blades more-.or less 'definefafhemispherefiand the arcuate cutting edges 'I9 of-fthe blades come bine tolform, as indicated in Fig. '7, asubst'anfl tially closed curve, the outlin'eof which approximates the' surface' ofn thepit at` the lsevered face of the fruit, but `the enclosed-'areaofl which7 "is cutter AImeans,`therei is superimposedover the holder, and in rspacedirelation y thereto, a presser member or plate Y22 which is horizontally vdisposed and againstfthejunder side of Whichthe severed vface of ithelfruit section is pressed by' the vholder 21 Desirably'theholder 2| has a spring or-oth'er resilient mounting` so that the Hfruit supported thereby Will 'be resiliently" "pressed against the backing'meinber. I

c AThe*presser member 'drectly'lover the Vcenter of the .fholderfiis provided with anV open portion 23 which is snialler thanthearea of the severed face considerably greater than-that,oithepit, 'On' ,the others-hand; ,when theleversllarefrrfqvdi through. `an arc of ;'substantiallyf'ninety?r ldegrees 5,vv the bladesagain more orless ,de'nef a Aheini phere buttnezcumngi edge of 'ensessubstantial;

ly continuous with the cutting edgeoffl the' other',

that infallA positions of Aitl-lef levers" or""blades"the cutting 'edgesof each of the blades deine a A'cuve tion 'of thelevers.V y

indicated, thearrangement issuch tha'tas they y movearoun'dfthe contour of the pit during sever'- ancejthereof from vtheiilesh, they will-form inl lasil'ldicated in Fig. 10,7311? Willalso be noted y ofi-the'. fruitlbut@issuinciently larger than the n iipose'd; area fof the halfy pitther'ein' to acc-ominodatethe e'bladesin their various positions. l v'Preierablyl thernorma'l "position ofthe member 22 is s ichthat Whnthe levers-6` and lare vertical, the

` cutting edgesfff thef-bladesi as shown in Fig.r 7, extendthrugl'rth'eopexi portion 23 land'fslightly intouth e'shof thefruitvat the severed face'. f'fAsfm'ay-"be understood, itl[isf desirablefthat the cutting-'Y'edgesof thelt'vvo pitter blades be ,held

,0. spa'cedaparttofafconsiderable extent when th .A .y 'fifil'tandlthelouttingedges'are'initially -placedin Vthe vmanner' f Y ejgag 'n"wit];1 feaoh othergi, With thisiniti'al Y. f the'bladesjevenfiithe fruit be held liiesh downwardly or to produce' relative rnove ment between the pit-and the eshin opposed directions, the blades during their severing movement and at the completion thereof will isolate or house, so to speak, theseveredpit from the flesh of 4the vfruit,r sov thatjthef blades during their severing movement, will movey under the pit and hold it from following movementoflthe flesh of the fruit where suehesh is movedawayv from the` pit; 'andfconversely where the leshz of theA fruit is held from-movement in one ydirection and the blades are moved: in suchdirection, 'or Where the pit section or seedsection, is shifted relatively rto a Xed pathof travi-,711gofthe, seed` zio' i.

severing means, the formationA of the. curved pity v Y tinglb'lades will enablethe pit so tobernovecl -awayfr'om the held flesh, or, alternatively,will

force the vv1-^ `itfvfiher ewayflfrom will@Y axis. of

fthe'ipla'de intatte-.flesh or themen fruit will not ,fevefrltednilinnf' thesubsequent operation ,0f ktrie:levers fIt il1, b`ef"evident, however, that if the bladesy areperrni edlto'enterand pursue the cutting operat n w eX ion, the Segment which wouldube fruit would,,lilelygbeliconsiderably "egmegit representedxby the fruit y q ,afwaste'fof fruit'might readily be A-ionate to theyadvantage gained by .the 'ingoperation r l Y Y I n fthe foregoing, Ihaveso designed the eangthatpenetration thereof into the in ed `rito contatnwithfthe sidesoi the pit. n

ned againstQthe "presserv memthe bladesfarethus in Y w A ,l ,y I All-nvot:commence at least to kI. an sgubstantialgdegreeuntil bothb'la'des havebeen Siem. embOdmeIltof' the'f'invention, thel s I 4 tieularly .a blade. fis afforded :bv :arrimsine for relative Amovement.;of; the bladewwithrrespect i .t0

pitl tha'cuttng-edgeaof onefbladelwill overlap, the

` Cuttngzedgeofipthe'other andthus insure a comthelever .on .which-it is Carried. lffdesiredhsuch. v`

relative movement of; the'. bladewith respectuto .f itsv opera-ting, lever may` be provided for. in conneCtOIi with each cutting;member,.as shown irrEigJLlfZ-,L or as disclosed in another.embodimentiasgseenin Figs. 1 to 6the relative movementofthe'bla'dc` andleverfmay be utilized in connectionwith. but one lever and its associatedblade. clear from Fig. `3, the lateral-extension; or-barfli by which. the blade l2- is .attachedtoz theleverf'l is pivotallyv connected .with the lever :'liinstead. of being rigidlyconneeted .theretaiaslis the -case with respect to the lateral extension .or bar Hand the lever 6. Pivotalpconnectionof tlfiefzlateral` extension 1.8 and the leverJ is. eectedfby means of a pivotal-pin 26 located at the free end21 of the lever and extending through ear 2.8fformed on the lateral extensiony I8. Itlwillbe seen .that the .axis of theA pin 26 is parallel to the axisofshaftz. and therefore when thexlateral exte'nsionrl4 rs-rocked on the pin 26, the-blade `I'2.will be. moved.` directly inwardly toward the blade II. y if.' 1

.Extensions Il and I8 are provided :with integral armsk ZH and 32,-respectively, the armll -iiLthis embodiment (Fig. 1) being pivotally `connected directly with the shaft 8.andformingrmerely-.a reinforcement for the; lever 6.- lInlthe casev of the arm 32, pivotal connection is `Inade-witha' stationary standard 33 associated withthestation ary supporting .structure ,2. Connection. of the arm'32 and the ystationary vstandard is .effected through a pin 34 fixed tothe arm .32.land bearing in an aperture -or slot 36 in thelstandardr33. The -slot or opening-.36 is horizontally elongated in order that the extension'l may befmovedrelal tively to the lever 1 as above eirplainedwv l The slot 36, as seen inlFigures 2v and-*6, is pro` vided with vertical side clearance forl the pin 34 to facilitate the pitv locating movement of :the

extension I8. The pin .34 and Iaperture 36 are.

so arranged that when the lever `I is vertically disposed, that is, when the blades are in` full extended relation before initiation ofv thesevering operation, the pin, as vwill befclearlyiseen from Figure 2, will be disposedjat thev reanen'd 'As -Will be of the slot with the axis of the pin outofxalign- 'l ment with the axis of the shaft8, But .when the .lever` 'I- is moved partially rout of vertical position and the pinis thereby movedfinvthe direction of the other. end ofy theaperturegthe axisv of the pin will move into. registnationwit-h the shaft axis 8. It will thus be clear `that upon initial movement of the lever-.1 the blade l21wil1 be caused to advance overythe face of thefruit pleteseverancegof the pitwithout .damage to such; edges..` f In addition. by; havingftheseblades underliefthe pit 'no lmovement of the pit downwardly can possiblytake `fplace,; whereas, `as-.wil be hereinafter set forth, due t0 the .actionof the pressure plate the. flesh of `the `fruit; may' .be forced; downwardly relativelyl to the 'thus stationarilyheld pit whereby to produce the cutting'actionhereinafter set forth. Any `suitable means may be provided for effecting the rotation cof the cutters and, 4as here shwvn,l 4suchmeans `isinthe form :of rod :4I

actuated throughapedal .42 and connected by toggle links {Maand-i 44 tolateralarms #Brand 41 yexterniing froxngtheglever Gandthe extension or fbar .Ii respectively; By. depressingfthe rod-whenthelevers '6 andi1 are in initial ver-v -ticalposition thejlink 44 willfmove extension I 8- downwardly about the pin126 and in. order that .the Ablade -l2 will` beenabledfto moveinwardly toward the pit before-lever 6 is caused to-move downwardly about, the shaft 8, .the pivotal connection j Ibetween ,f the-f link. *I3 and the arm-4-6 is of such characteras to .allow a limitedfreefmovement of `the link without theattendant movement ofthe arm. As shown best inrligure, thisffree movement is accomplished byprovidingsa-slotinthe arm 46 for receiving thepivotal pin which connects the link tothe arm'. This provides in effect a lost .motion-connection. ofcourseA after the limitof. a. free movement fisreached, the further downward movement of the rod causes the definite and simuultaneous movement of both levers .6 andl unti1;the -v cutting operation is comp1eted.f-The downward movement ofthe levers isv limited by theengagement ofthe plates I4 .and I5 withthe pressure member 22, as shown inFigure'lO, and suchlydownward movement of thelevers is re- SiSedbY a VSpring V:lfconnected `to the pedal andthe,base2.` This springlikewise serves' to move the leversback,to'vertical position uponreleaseef thejpedal'. fA spring 49 preferably con# same' time this stop assuresthe return of a until contact isr made with the pit fand 'that when the contact is thus established further rotation of the'v lever Vwillcause the blade with the pit as a fulcrum to swing downwardly through the nesh and around or underlthe pit.

It will be evident that as thelever 4'l continues on its downward movement the pivtetlexte'rision I8 is caused gradually to assume thecourse of movement taken by the lever 1 about the shaft 8, la-nd as a result by the time the lever 1 reaches its horizontal position the pin 34'wi11 ,have

reached thev rear end of the slot or apertureU 36 and the blade l2 will thus be guidedto'itsnal position. Since the blade Il'infthis-embqdime'nt is caused at all timesto'i move inadixed path,

the nnaiposition of'thevblade as-we11}eslfof the other blade I2, will be'v definite and determined. Theblades preferably are so arranged that in .assuming theirlnallposition'underfthe bladev l2--toextended position under the' force of spring 49; yThe pin34 is thereby positioned at the left Iend of the slot 36, .as shown in Figure 2.

a It will, of course, be understood that when it lis desired Atov cause both blades initially to Vmove inwardly toccntact the edge of the pit inlad- Vancegof-*the movement of theblades into lthe iiesh of the fruit,-the'cuttervmernber of unit 3 'may bemounted asshown in Figures A12 to-14 and similarly.v to the unit'4 ofthe iirstfdescribed embodiment. Insu'oh'dual arrangement, the-arm 3| carries a pin 3G' received in'an opening '3 6' instandard", as ivill'be clear-from Figures `13 `and 14 ofthe drawings. VIt willfbe evident that, .as the blades move arcuatelyA about-the axis oftheshaft-the contactof the blades withthe pitwill--tendto'become less pronounced and finallyto cease as the bladesbecomeappreciably embeddediin the iesh ofthe fruit duringr thersevering operation. Means are, therefore, :provided independent of the Ameans above described for causing' the blades lto Amaintain vContact with o-i to be maintainedin close juxtaposition to the' pit tionagry,4 basez/ having, means 53' Where duringthe? severing operation. r In-jthen presenti.

case, :suclfr added'means is incorporated fv/iiththe: e pressure member 22 andthe purpose.thereofy Y setup a force tending, .during the severing `opeijzl l ationuaforesaid', eitherto force.tlre.pit-againsty the l.blades f or to force the blades. against. the pit.

Ignacconlplishing thel operation aforesaid by means which provides, for the forcing .of ,thepit a positionv at least partially under the pit.,.f'Ihe resilient IInoun ting of the memberZi! isf'smply provided for by formingA itj of. `resilient o. material i anqfnovipgiits point of attaonmentrotnofbasjoj structureoat somedistance from theplatep 7 edpnthe .endoasprins wire' 59' is a similar and.

f 5.2 interps'edfbetweenfthe Amember.and,as't'opl 53 provided n'fth'epo'rtion of `the`rodj extending above ktioo'gm meer. since the edopressionyortno mein er `22fis-freduired 'only after 'thefceasing of a'foresaid`,` imited'downward movementfoff the? rod 1s perm edibefor'etherod rbecomes actu-V the; r'od'Ell.. being; limited ibyfeh'gagement. o'f the pedal withfthe stfpj 54.sadjllstably'positioned* the. rodi" .Itlvvill 'thus' be' clear that on 'depression'. I. y ci. the member22, the fruit will be' gently forced downwardly and that' the pit vv'ill"l pressl against theblades and as fa consequence the cuttinge'digev dftlijogblade. will-*pursue its Vway through :monta 'alongl'thesidesjloithe pit untilV thesevering operand" .to .this eind'v the.. nler'nb'ers` are cone" Q ntact off the lblades'ir/ith the pit'rby reasonl ofthe pivotal mounting of the` blade supper-telas posedbetween the cylinder 55 and anut thread- Weaker coil `spring 453.4 It WillY be `seen thatin foregoing construction, the concave and *convexI v 2 plates 58;.and 5l serveas asort oiball and soclety joint .permitting .lateral movements of the, cup

58 in all directions" For instance. whontho cup 58 is movedlater'ally the spring steely Wireg Will return thev cup to a center position`the vertical z. IiflQVementbeing accomplished by the' cylindricaly portion vvsliding in the'cylinder 54 under the influence of a spring G. '.'Ihe spring 63. appliesv a, tension downwardly 'onsprin'g bar 59.

-' In the constructionl hown in Fig. v15, thereis 'provided-a cylndrical'upstandirig base B4 hav-` ing an `interna-1'partition 65. -Withinl the up` standing cylind'erll'is disposed-.a tubularflhead 65 having a top laterally eiten'ding circularflangef Y l El upor'whichfre'sts a corresponding'circular atedglflsiich' free. movement of` the pedalfrelativefto angjeI of .the fruit holder cup-69. f This cup at its central portion is provided `viith'fal downwardly extendinghead'. I'he h'ea'dl has ajnul'nber yor holes 1l drilled port way throughl Jo-reooive e compression springs 7g2 .Whichperinit the lhead to shift'laterally in anyjdirection on the platelke tion, the bottom of thehead is'centrallybored to receive a threaded lboltv 11713, 1 having a plate-'like headllll which slides iover`"a`,circular inwardly extendingI ange "l5 onthefilnnerllWall of the head1 I 56,Whereby vto'guide the' head 'lil of the fruit'cupA SS .initslaterallysliding' movements. y In addition, ythe-'internal lowerportion of the cylinder .2 661s threaded to receive av'plug l5', in turn pro. vided I'With' 'a vcentrally disposed bolt' havingr a ymit "'13 on'A its'lowerie'nd 'engaging the 'loWe'rpor-l tion of theange -toprovde a'limited upward movement of the cylinder 66.' A-la'rg'ecoil spring 8ersurrounds `thetubular housing 64j the lower i end ofthe-spring pressing against the' base of the ation'hasi'been completed.` 'Ihus',.` regardless of f thefdepthfshape, or'jplosition of the pit;4 rio"w'as`tel offruit'will be'Senta-iledfiriv severing the pit rthere-.

' from. In the foregoing.operation-it'willibetaplz viznj'ec'ia'tedy that-a relative A.movement lbetween .the flesh ofthe fruit and-the pitr iss/created tendingto 'ca-use thefpittingblades togmove closelyiaround the'contour'oftheipitandisever the minimurnaoi;

of'y thedrawings,r I' mayutilize the; cup. construe@ tionshown' in :Figsir .14.' and. 15,;either with lthe single Ashiftable. blade or l with ,double 1 shiftable bladesiuaf. :n rf L v- Referringlto lll) there-is. provided av stav tig-'includes an upstanding tubular shelfd with! in 1which, .is adapted vertically '5to fi slide'fthe head.

for-mation`-andf'is adapted to receive and. s rt housing 625-f.andagainst the. under side 4`ci `the' plate El offthe' sliding head 66., Irl/this type ofr takes of; bothvertically yielding `rnovemkentgalnd. I alateral"movement,"ffautomatic'ally returning to a. centralizedgposition. iff v l .It Will thus .be seen that I have provided a pittingvmechan'isrn forcleanly severing the loits from khalf lfruit or.1ruit"`sections in a manner such that theminimumof Aleshcan bevsevered..v Inieither typeof construction, that e is, gin .ya construction Where bothA pitting blades enjoy a. pit-locating movement, or inthe `construction where only` one ofI theyblades.partakesy yofgthe pit-locating movement,l Ifir- 11espectiveof-v th'efposition of the pit as it is embedded in .the iesh Uofl thefruit section, When the rst blade lc :ontacts the ledge or the .pit `inthe pit-locating movement, the blade Will shift thepit laterally slightly, vwhereby kto causeit to Contact with the OpDOsitely located therein 'the peripheralsurf'ace ofjja'h'alf. peach to be pitted or tofhave' thecentral"seedz contain# centrally boredltoreceive and holda Vspring Wire 59 finanf uprightpositionaindv allows the' 'spring Wire tfslide' up anddoWn-slightlyj l'Surrour'iding' the upright 'cylindrical housing 54y kisa coilfspring Vi501?which*rests .between-"a: shoulder El rth'er'eon .blade-Jn. VS ..m1e;%'.1.Stl11.-.Sfvvhew the. single shiftvable blade is utilized, the pitelocating `lateral shifter.theishiftable blade irl Contacting thepit will serve to vmove the-pit laterally. with respect tofthe vflesh ofqthe fruit section, the flesh giving Y or yielding a suflicientyamount to permit thislateraly rnovernehtgof thepit. Inysnch instance the. pit',- if not too l `far-removedgsfrorrl the opposedl stationary blade; will shift into Contact with tho stationary blade. `Thereafter, the opposedy pit Sdeswillgat asvfulcrafforpvotallv .mounted pitting plates .which Willf thereafter?V automatically star-tl cl'owr'iwardly on their`v pitting Y orliiesh sev;y ering'travel, until they' meetsulbstantially'- at? theunderl side-oi the pit. In-otlier instances; the' singlelateralshiftable pittingl blade; as itcone` taCtS the side oithep't", willshitvtlie-*halffruitor fruit sectionan'dfthe pit bodily laterally, due'y to the"lateral movement .of the cup'itself, so

embodied, both' blades Willmovesimultaneously laterallyl tothe pit-locating position andthereafter` will Inovearound thecontourI ofthe pit to severl the -pitfrom the flesh. n y l Inlzcertain instances, `the blade `first to Contact the pit in the pitflocating movementl may -`addi-- tienally serve to shift lthe pit laterally, the opposite blade likewise moving laterally in its pitlocating movement, until both blades contact the pit onvopposite sides thereof'.

If any of th'e foregoing constructions, as: the pittingblades move downwardly around theunderside of the pit, the presure plate will: press dovvn uponthel cutiace of the fruit section, but willnot Contact the pititself, and; With increasing force, will servetoimove thel flesh ofy the fruit in a direction relatively-away from-.th'epit being severed-ancl', as this forcecontinues to-be applied and the pitting-blades continue to cut through the yet unsevered flesh' of the fruit section, it will be evident thatthe pitting blades will be guided'more closely; towardthefemictcon` tour or" the pit itself andl therebyfwill severi` a minimum of iiesh'from the fruit: section.

With respect to thetype of enlargedeslot: particularly. shown'fin Fig-s; ZC-andE 14; this-slot permits the blades ,to-:.morexclosely conform to the pit surface. In sh'ort,.vthe. slotlper'mitsthe blades to move more freely andfrelieves' theV tendency of` the blades to .bind In? addition; it is thought that theenlargedl slot will' provide a cleaner cut. In 'connectionwith' the slot- 315` in Figs. 2 and 13; that is, Where Athe slot-31?` islarger than the diameter'of the movingpin except-on each end of th'e slotf-gW-this allows theA pitters to follow aty random` just.. ater they have` comel in contact wit-hl the pit and until they have ymoved in toward the center line of" the pitfar enought'o allow the pin-3drelatively to rest in the end' of the slottedhole. From then on, until the pitting iscompleted, the blades ltravel ina true 4are around the pin center.y Thus; the enlarged slot 36 willmake a cleaner cut-intheflesli'of thefruit section. 1 n y l 'y Changes may be mad-e in theform,conz'strlrfw tion, and arrangement of the parts Without dee parting' from the spirit of the invention or sacri face of; thel fruit, means `for :moving the; cutters.v fromone position' ini whichthe' 'cuttingl edges` thereof are spaced apartandengage saidl face atoppositesides of the pit to Aapositi'on lin which' suchedges areto'gether and within the fruit, and'Y means -forf mounting said cutters whereby on lini-4 l tlatlon of the movement from' said"rst"position fcing any of its attendant advantages,- and the r right is hereby reserved to make all such'ch'anges as fairly fall Within the claims.

I claim:

l f 710 scope of the follow-ingt l'. In a device for pitting halved fruit,- apair ofmovable cutters mountedto overlie the severed tothe second the cutting edges willbe caused to embrace the pit before substantial penetration of the edges vinto the fruit, and means-arranged forl coactiorr with the fruit forv maintaining said cutters in' ernbrac'iifig"` relationwithl'thesides of thepit".y Y,

2. In a device for pittingdrupaceousfruit; the

combination of Vm'earisfor supporting fa-half" fruit with its cut/facev exposed, a: pairy of 'cutting members having curv'edcutting 'edges conforming sub-A stantially tothe curve'of the pitsection, means forv positioning', said cutting "members in opposed relation at'the face of. the `fruit'ion"opposite sides' ofthe pit section, with saidfcutti'n'gedges incon-` tactwith the flesh of the fruit in' slightly spaced relation `from` the" border line `of" the pit', and mechanism for operating' said' cutting members including means to move atleast one of said crutting members substantially parallel to the cut face of the halt fruit into contactvvith the pitl section land meansV for thereafter arcuately swinging saidcuttinlgjmembers to' cause themft'o cutthroughthe flesh ofthe fruit substantially along thecurved outline of the p itlsection; Y l 3Q In adevice forv pitting halved fruit; asspecrf fied in claim 2Q vwhereinv .means isprovidedjforA resiliently` urging! the' cutting members into `engagement with the pit of the fruitduring'moveement of said cutting members through theflesh of the fruit along the curved outline of therpit section. f l; Y' 4. In adevicef for Vpittingfruit,Yas'speciied in claim 2,'Wherein'mean's is provided vforfexejrting a pressure upon the severed portion of, the half fruit in-adirection away from the pit sectionidur-V ing thearcuate swinging-ofthe cutting nrembersy through the iiesh'y of the fruitly .nl 5. In a device for pittingidr-upaceous fruit, the comhination'of means for supporting a lhalf fruit withit'scut face'exposed', pitting means, means for mounting the pitting meansfto cause the same to enter the cut iaceiofl the .half` fruit substantially at right angles thereto and. to slightly penetrate thecutfa'ce vof thejfruit spaced from1 the border une of: .uw pitv at` the-face of the'vfruu, means for'shifting thei pittingjmeans to cause lthe same to move directly toward the pit substantially parallel tothecut face -of thev h'alf`fruit whereby'y to engage the pitwalls therebyT to' 'cause said engagement to act as a fulcrum and means for thereafter` swingingithe pitting meansV arcuately throughthe esh of the fruit and around the vouter Walls of the lpit to'severfthepit; `V GLII'he method of` pittinga half fruit having apit section disposed onj itsrcut'pface andvun severed therefrom,A comprising supporting the half fruit with its cut face andf'thep'it' section exposed, Hforming supercial cuts intr the eutface of the fruit on opposite isides 1 of the Spit section andV spacedtherefrom, y extendingfthe. cuts so made throughy the flesh `of thefr'uitl ina direction substantially parallel lto thegcutface gof the fruit whereby to -meettheopposedfouter marginal surfaces of the pit/section slightlybelowithe cut surface of the halfviruit, andthen extending the cuts along the under surface of thegpitfuntllvthey 9'..4In a device of the class so asto pass along the curved wall of meetwhereby completely to sever the-pit section lfromthe halffruit. l'

'1 7. The method of'pittingv a fruity ,having-" apit section disposed on its cut face andunsevered therefrom, comprising supporting the halffr'uit with its cut face and-the pit 'section exposed, forming a superficial Acut in the cutface [of the fruit spaced laterally from aV marginal edge ofthe pit section, extending the cut so made 'through the esh of the fruit ina 'direction substantially parallellwith--the cutface of thefruit to meet Said marginal edge of the pit section, ex-

-2;a2 9;2i12 c l and the piti unset/ered`rtherefrom exposed,` a pit `removing"cutteig'and cutter-supporting andop'- 'l'erating.mechanism'including means for positiontending-the cut from said marginal W'allfalong the under surfacefof the pit,and exertingjpressure on the fleshy? portions of the fruit a 'direction `'away from the pit during the formation of ythe cutvaroun'd the under surface of-the pitiv4 '8.A A device for pitting a -halfjyfruit -having a pit section disposed on itsc'ut face Vand unsevered therefrom, comprising means-for supporting `the jx vhalf fruitv with its cut face and the 'Ptsection l `expose'd,`a cutter having a cutting edge'co'nforming to the elongated curvaturefof the pit, means foradvanci'ng 'the cutting edge substantially at 'right 'angles into tn'eeut face of the naif fruit iat afdistance from the margin of the pitand for th'en'moving said cuttingnedge substantially parallel tothe cut face of the fruit into' contact with the'edge ofthe pit slightly underi the cutrface of the fruit, and means for moving the cutter along the curved under surface of the pit to sever for holding a half fruitwith its cut face exposed and the pit integral With the fleshthereof, means `for initially positioning a Vpair of cutters'relaf described, means ingl the cutter in. aposition overlying f the severed v,face of thefruit'fwiththe cuttingedge .engaging the' said facesin outwardly rspaced relation `to the pit, said''cuttertsupportingand operating mech-v anism including meansA for moving thel .cutter 4from .'s'a'idf.` overlying position vabout a 'rst laxis ,relatively remote from the cut face of the half Afruit across, the severed face off. the fruit to en- -vgage the-pit Without-substantial.penetration into Ythe flesh-of the'fruit andf'or subsequently. moving.l saidicutter about a 'second axis. relatively fclo'sefto'y the A`cutvface of the half'fruitto penetrate vthe fruit :between the flesh and thept.

' 2.1113?. In"apitting.=device, as specified in r'claim 12,

tivelytov the cut face of theha-lf fruit so that f i said cutters contact the cut face of the half fruit,

one onr each side of and spacedV from the'pit, each of [said cutters having a cutting edge Substan- @40 tially conforming to the vlongitudinal*curvilinear wall of the half pit, and 'mechanism including means for moving said'l cutters from said initial v position transversely acrossv the'facefofmthe'half 'fruit into contact With the khalf fpitandmeans for thereafter causing saidcutters to 'swing with" the a ondaxisp 1 position'simultaneouslyffwith fthe irs'tl 'cutter about-f an axis relatively remote fromthefcut face of the! halflfruit across'.l the severed faceV of. the c fruit to engage -ftherlpit without substantial i penetrationinto theffleshfof the. fruit and for sub- 'seqiientlyv movingsaid second cutterl about the said vsecond axis butv oppositely to the directionv f of movement fof" the iirstlcutter about said sec'- 14. adevice" for pittingdrupaceous fruit, the

combinationof means for supporting a half fruitA Y with its cutfface'i exposed, apair of cutters, Tand l cutter supporting? and operating mechanism in- `v4cludifig means 'for ycausingthe cutters to contact the' exposed face of thefruitin outwardly spaced irelationt'o'f the pit; means fory thereafter moving at least onetf th'ecutters across the cut `face of thefruit While in contact with the exposed'. face Aof the fruitfandinto engagement withv the mar- `ginall`edge of-the pit, means forr thereafter moving Both of saidcutters through thexilesh of the kfruit 'about the pit to Asever thev pit from the fruit,

' "and-"means forfif'orcingi the pit and flesh of the pit 'asa fulcrum andwhile'in contact therewithv A the pit in approaching directions. -10. A device for pittinga pit unsevered therefrom, comprising means for pit exposed, pitting means, meansfor operating the pitting means to cutthe flesh o f the fruit, beginning on opposite sides ofA the pitand con- @supporting the half fruit with the cut face and tinuing through. the flesh of the fruit' in' 'ap-k I proaching directions, following closely around the curved Walls ofthe pit until the pit-is completely severedfrom the esh', and means for pressing upon theilesh of the fruit on opposite s1des=of such severing action. u y. f 11. The process of pitting a half fruitwlnch comprisesfsupporting the half fruit with `its cut face and pit exposed, severing through the flesh y y of the fruit close to thepit, beginning onopposite sides of the pit and following around 1nv` approaching directions the under Side ofthe 'pit until said lines of severancenkmeet,andyholding r v-mountingthe fruitvsupporting means, and' the the pit from'movement duringY thel severing opn- Veration,While exerting positive'pressure on. the exposedface of theflesh'ofthe'fruit 1n 'a direc'- tion away from the Aconfined pit.'

12. In adevice for pitting halved fruitf'means y for holding Aa half frutwith the cut face thereof `fruitfrelativelyr apart" during the severing Aoperation fof both cutters therebytomaintainthe cuthalf Afruit' nai/ing" sitov tesin';embracingrelation With the marginal Wall frthelpit throughoutthelsevering operation.

l 15. In"y a pitting-device, as specified-in claim 14:, wherein there/is provided means for mounting fthe',fruit-"supportingmeans for yielding movement in tvvo direction'sfone at right angles tothe other,."andwvher'einthemeans-for moving one of Ythecuttersacross?thercutface of the fruit isconstruct'e'dftomovethecfruit supporting means in l `1,160.r g the pit lin a direction away from the -pi-t during I -one'direction upon Vcontacting-'the pit by saidl one cutter to 1positionfthe opposite side of the pit into contact with theothervof the cutters; and wherein saidfmeans for forcing the pit and thev "':iieslrfofk the 3-fru'it lrelatively apart vcomprises a memberpr'essing upon the'iiesh of the half fruit;

esi, A

structed" toyield injfthe other direction under ,theforceof saidm inber'pressing upon the c ut Q 16; vIn a pitting device, asispecied in claim 14,

wherein/"there is' provided means for yyieldably means" for forcingthepit and the flesh of the fruit relativelyf apart comprises a plate-like memyfloer adapted to overlie the'fruitwhile heldin the fruit 'holderandto' Contact the vcut face of the fruit, said `plate* having. ari aperture substantially larger thanzthe-pitaso Vthat thezmarglnal .edgesrinf Y the` aperture` aresubstantially.l spacectiromi the pit, andwherein `said fmeazrs-:for: moving. at .least one of the cutters laterally iszconstructed to shift the fruit supporting means'f laterally, in Iatdireation :to bring :the pit. into. contact-with :thefopposite cutter.

' ,17.,In a device for pittingvrhalf lfruit .the combination of means'forr'holding fruitwith its cut face andpit exposed; a support, pitting means comprisinga shaft' carriedizby `said.support and adapted to, extend i substantially 'closet'o the planeof the'cutface of;the;ha1fifruitfin said holding means',` a pair4 of leverseachpivoted to i swing about'said shaft as a.n`a.xis,-a..cutter extension carriedon the outerv-endrofeach lever, at least one extensionv being pivoted-.te itsv lever` and having an arm, a and slot=.connection between said arm and said `supportsaid. slot. rbe.-4

ing substantially concentricwiththeaxis oflsaid shaft to permit a limitedfree :movement ofsaid arm and its associ-ated:leverv ex-l'lerxsien'if relative to the other lever extension,v ,afcuttenrigidlyfcarof the fruit close` to thel pit about.thecurved wall of the pit to sever` the -pit-v from thefrjesh of the fruit, and holdingthe vpit against movement during the severing operation Whilev apply.- ing external pressure tothe fleshof'- theffruitin a direction away from the .conned.pit,

19. In va device for pitting drupaceoumfruit', the combination of means for 4supporting anal( fruit with its cut face exposed, apalr ofjcutting membersha'ving curved cuttingedges contorni- 4ing substantially to lthecurve -of the pit. section, means for positioning said cutting-A members in opposed relation at the face ofi tlielfru-it:A on opposite sidesof: the pit section, with said cutting edges adjacent the.: flesh of the y fruitdn slightly l. spacedrelation from the-border line-or the pit, f'

and-mechanism for operatingsaid cutting members including means to moveY atleast oneqrsald cutting members a suicient;distancesubstantially parallel to the-cut face of vthe halfffrult pit section laterally. towa-rdssaid oppositecutter member, and means for ythereafter moving` said cutting members to cause-them` to cut through the flesh of the` fruit to sever;the -pitsection therefrom.

20. The hereinxdescribed methodvvliiclfr cornf-v prises supporting a half fruit; With' its cut-face.-

and pit exposed, positioning two pitting cutters at the cut face of the half fruit and'on `opposite .1 sides of and in spaced relation fromthe pit, shift.-

ing at least oney of said-pitting ycuttersl across the cut face of the half fruit into-contact with the pit section whereby to'shiftthe pit vsection laterally toward the other cutter and thereafter moving both cutters through theufflesh; ofthe fruit to sever the pit therefrom.` ...l

21. In a device for pittinga-haltfruit, or inuit sections, a pair of movablecutters mounted to overlie the severed face oty the-fruit, means-Mier egaaeaiz moving?, one: ofvv said cuttersf` from a: positiom in which the cutting edge thereof isfspaeed from ,saidzpittoa position .inwhich saidc-utting edge engages; the pit, ,meanwhile holding said other cutterY stationary-in vcontact with the rGilt f ace of thef-ruitiand'spaeediromthe pit, said movement of; said i rst :cuttera serv-ing to -move said pit laterztlly, and means-fior thereafter moving both YOsairl` cutters,` arcuately around the-contour of .the pitninr approaching directionsto sever the pit-'from the flesh'ofthe fruit. y, l

f 2,2. AIllzazdevice vof the class described; thecombinaticnof fruit holding 'nieansfmountedtc yield in: onefdirectien; andadaptedv yieldingly to shift in adirectionat right anglesthereto,V said fruit holder .,adaptedto, hold a `fruit-,section Withuthe pit embodiedjtherein, Ya. plurality cfcutters, means--fforfpositioning saidcutters atthe cut /iaceforthejruitseetionon opposite sides `of. the

pit,r and .eaehloe'ing spaced-fromthe side ofthe pit; means yfor moving.- atA least one of said Vcutters across the out: face -ov'the fruitsection-,into

contact. with the edge of thepit whereby/to shift#the.fruit-sectionlaterally towards the cpposite'fcuttersandlthe pit into contact therewith,

orsubstantially into contacttherewith, and means for; thereafter; `arcuately moving. Vsaid.l cutters around, andin Aclose .proximity to .the contour of the pit `whereby to severvv said pitA from ,the flesh o f the fruit section.

23. a device for removing. Aseed sections from previously splitY fruits, the combination of means for holding such .ahalf split fruit in position for assed severing. operation, seed. sever- (means, means for shifting the half fruit .Iwhile supported by.,V the holding means in a direction .away from the severing means Awhereby to ,cause the seedjsectionY toV take up a new rposition, and `means, for actuating ,the severing means tocause the severingmeans t'o` cut through flesh ori-tithe half fruit relatively closeito the margin Yofgtheseed section when in. its shifted position. -24. Ina peachv pittingfdevice for 'removing .halved pits.V from .previously split peaches, the `clzornbination of means forK holding lsuch aihali splitA peach in position for removal of its half pitsect-ion, .pitting means, means for relatively mov-ing thepitting ymeans and the holding means containing the split l'neachi'linv a direction substantiallynormal to the out' face of' the peach and toward.. eachother to preliminarily position t the peachrelative to said pitting means, means 5 into contact With the pit; section` andto shiftsaid vfor thereafter shifting said peach whileinsaid holding `means in 'an' opposite direction whereby to positionthe pit ofthe peachvin juxtaposition vtothe path ofthepitting means, and means-for V.actuating the severing means to cause it to cut through the flesh ofthe' half fruit'and relatively close. to the margin of thepit while the pit' is initsshifted position. l

125.. 1In a device of the class` described, the

'combination of means for holding a half peach withvitscut face, and half pit exposed`pitting means adapted arcuate'ly to move about a fixed axis during the pit severing action, means adapted to press on. the half` peach for moving the' half peachand' holding means in a direcvtionaway from..said axis of movement ,of the l.pitting means, and means for causing the' pitting means tov.,sw ing arcuately about said axis tov cut through the eshv .of the half peach whereby ,to/cause thefc'uttingk meansto cut ashallcwer cutfin the flesh ofthe halfpeach duringat least portiwof the pitting` operation. 4 l

pitting, device Afor pittinga succession of peach halves Which may be of Variant sizes, the combination of a cup-like holder for holding a succession of half peaches which may be oi variant sizes, pitting means adapted arcuately to move about a xed axis through the flesh of each of the succession of half peaches While so held in the cup-like holder means for resilientlx7 urging said cup toward said pitting means, means for shifting each peach while in the cup in a direction opposed to the direction in which the cup is resiliently urged, such shifting movement of each peach varying substantially in proportion to the size of the half peaches being pitted whereby to regulate the depth of successive cuts made by a cutting means through the flesh of each peach of the succession of peaches of variant sizes.

27. In a device for pitting half fruit, the combination of means forming a fruit holder adapted to hold a half fruit with its cut face and pit section exposed, cutting means of curvilinear outline conforming t the marginal outline of the pit section to be severed, means for positioning such cutting means at one side of the cut face of the half peach relative to the pit section thereof and for moving said cutting means from such position in an arcuate path in a direction to pass through the esh of the half fruit about the border of the pit section to be cut, and means operable during such movement of the cutting means for mechanically pressing the half fruit in its cup in a recedingdirection relative to the arcuate path of movement of the cutting means.

28. A peach pittingv device for removing half pits from previously split peaches,'including av cup adapted to receive each half peach with its cut face and half pit exposed, means for resiliopposite sides of and in spaced relation to the pit whereby to prevent the half peach from tilting in its cup during the pitting operation, and means adapted to shift the half peach and its cup in a direction opposed to said direction in which the cup is urged to position the periphery of the pit with respect to the arcuate path of lmovement of the pitting `means whereby to v cause the pitting means to form a shallower cut in and through the flesh of the half fruit during the pitting operation.

29..'I`he method of pitting a half fruit having a pit disposed on its out face and unsevered therefrom comprising supporting the half fruit with its cut face and its pit exposed, forming a superficial cut in the cut face of the fruit beginning at a point spaced from the curved wall of the pit, extending the cut so made through the flesh of the fruit in a direction substantially parallel with the cut face of the fruit to meet an outer marginal surface of the pit slightly below the cut face of the fruit, and ythen extending the out along the under surface of the pit.

30. In a machine for removing the seed sections from previously halved peaches, the combination of holding means for holding a half peach with its cut face and pit section exposed, pit section severing means adapted arcuately to move alonga predetermined path about an axis fixed during the pit severing movement of said severing means, means for moving the seed section-in a direction toward said path, vwhereby to position the outer curved Wall of the seed section with respect to said arcuate path of movement of the severing means, and means foractuating the 'severing means Ito cause it to cut through the iiesh of the half peach relatively close to said curved wall of the seed section While the seed section is in its shifted position. 31. ,In a pitting device, as speciiied in claim 19, wherein means is provided for movably mounting said fruit supporting means, and said operating mechanism is constructed to move said fruit supporting means with the fruit contained therein upon contact of at least one of said cutting members with the pit section thereby to position the pit sectionrelatively to the other cutting member.

32. In a device for pitting a half fruit, as specied in claim 21, wherein there is provided movably mounted meansV for holding a vhalf fruit for pitting by said cutters, and'wherein said means for moving one-of the cutters substantially parallel to the out face of the fruit is constructed to move the fruit holding means upon contact of the said one cutter with the pit whereby to position the opposite side of the pit in Contact with the other of the said pair of cutters.

ROLLIE B. NAWMAN.

CERTIFI GATE OF CORREG TI ON Patent No. 2, 529,212. september 1u, '1915.

x ROILIE B. NAWMAN.

It is lhereby certified that error yappears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first column, lines 58 and 59, for "base 52"-read --base 52'; page 6, first column, line 29, f-or"llfI read vIn; lnel, for "pressure" read --preseuren; page?, first column, line l5, claim 7,' for "wall" read -edge; .page 8, second column, line 57, claim 2li, for "s'everingl read --pitting; page 9, first column, line l5,A claim 26, for "a" before "cutting". read --the-; line l, same claim, for the before 1'successienf' read -a; and that the said Letters Patent should-be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thev Patent Office..

signed and sealed this 11th dey of January, A. D. 19ML.

l, Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

